With A Vengeance understand the appeal of heavy music with a big chorus. Their debut EP, Born To Survive, puts aggression, groove and melody at the center of its identity, with a bluesy streak that gives the material an extra dimension. It is an encouraging introduction to a band whose ambitions extend from the pit to the people singing along at the back of the room.
The reunion of vocalist Tommy Vext and guitarist Chris Cain gives the project a familiar starting point for Bad Wolves fans. Around them, the current lineup includes guitarist Xander Raymond Charles, bassist Kevin Creekman and drummer Austin D’Amond. That history creates expectations, but the appeal of this debut lies in the possibilities of the new partnership: heavy songs with room for personality, emotional tension and a memorable hook.
“Oblivion” offers the clearest expression of that approach. Its combination of groove metal and the rhythmic vocal attack associated with early-2000s rap metal gives the song a forceful foundation, while the melodic chorus opens up its reach. The attraction is in that balance. There is room for confrontation and accessibility within the same song, and the emphasis on a substantial chorus gives the aggression somewhere to go. It is a strong choice to introduce the band’s priorities.
The subject gives that push and pull additional weight. Vext has described “Oblivion” as an examination of what happens when something intended to help produces consequences of its own, with psychiatric treatment providing the context. It is an uneasy premise for a song, built around questions of trust and vulnerability. Placing those concerns inside an aggressive track with a large chorus makes artistic sense: frustration can be forceful while the need for connection remains close to the surface.
That aggression has an especially appealing outlet in “Bonescraper.” Its confrontational character gives the EP a harder edge, and there is real satisfaction in how firmly it occupies that space. For listeners drawn to the more hostile side of With A Vengeance, this is an obvious highlight. It gives the collection a welcome flash of nastiness and reinforces the importance of outright intensity within the band’s writing.
“Firefox” introduces a different shade of attitude. Its bluesy feel is one of the EP’s most appealing touches, adding character and suggesting a broader set of influences beneath the modern metal foundation. That quality makes it a worthwhile discovery deeper into the release. There is room here for a song to distinguish itself through feel, and “Firefox” makes that possibility especially enticing.
“Holy Ghost” adds the draw of Angel Vivaldi on guitar, extending the collaborative character of the record. With the debut single “Shared Light” also included, Born To Survive gathers the band’s first public steps into one release. The singles offer a familiar entry point, while the additional material makes the broader project worth exploring.
Behind the recording, Matt Guglielmo handles production and Periphery’s Spencer Sotelo takes the vocal production credit. Vext has spoken about Sotelo pushing him further and about working with Cain restoring his sense of purpose. That willingness to be challenged is a promising part of the project’s foundation. For musicians entering a new partnership with established careers behind them, an appetite to keep developing matters.
The seven-track, roughly 23-minute format suits an introduction with this much ground to establish. There is a clear foundation in heavy grooves and melodic ambition, plus enough variation to suggest that the band’s writing could develop in several directions. That is the most encouraging quality of Born To Survive: it establishes a recognizable identity while leaving room to grow. With A Vengeance have a convincing starting point for a full-length record, and the willingness to pursue the less expected corners of their sound could make that next release particularly rewarding.
